Boulder gives out more than $160,000 in SmartRegs rebates

Boulder officials announced Friday that there are no more SmartRegs rebates available for 2012 after giving out $160,420 in upgrade assistance this year.

The rebates -- designed to help defray the cost of complying with the city's new SmartRegs energy-efficiency standards for rental property owners -- will be available again in 2013, but the amount and structure of the rebates have not been announced.

Boulder is on track to reach its 2012 benchmarks for the rental housing ordinance, with 5,000 rental units getting an initial inspection and 2,500 of those expected to meet the energy-efficiency requirements by the end of the year.

SmartRegs will require all of the city's estimated 19,000 rental properties to meet a points-based rating system for energy efficiency by 2019.

Rental property owners are still eligible for a $30 discount off the $120 cost of home energy assessments through Boulder County's EnergySmart program for single-family and multi-family properties until the end of the year.

"Now is a perfect time for property owners to plan ahead and get their initial home energy assessment through EnergySmart," said Megan Cuzzolino, Boulder's residential sustainability specialist, in a statement. "The assessment is the first step in the process; once 2013 rebates funds are secured, these property owners will be a step ahead in the process."

Residents and property owners who enroll in the program are paired with an energy adviser to help them find rebates and financing opportunities and connect with qualified contractors.

For more information, visit EnergySmartYES.com; or call 303-544-1000 for homes or 303-411-1300 for businesses.

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